Collapsible frame



Feb. 16, 1965 BROWN COLLAPSIBLE FRAME Filed Nov. 17, 1960 R m m m United States Patent 3,169,544 CQLLAPSIBLE FRAME Neil Brown, 25 Country Club Drive, Sulsun, Calif. Filed Nov. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 69,967 dClaims. (Cl. 135-5) The present invention relates to an expansible and collapsible portable frame embodying certain structural features and advantages which constitute an advance in the field of endeavor to be hereinafter more specifically touched upon.

Briefly summarized, the invention has to do with a novel portable frame structure which is characterized by a pair of spaced parallel frame members, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced stays linking said members together, like ends of said stays being hingedly connected to one of said members, and the opposite ends of said stays being slidingly connected to the other of said members, whereby said members may be spread and rigidly held apart or, alternatively, collapsed with one member positioned compactly against the other member.

Although not essential, the aforementioned individual members, which may be referred to as top and bottom members in the drawings, constitute frames. Each frame is preferably, but not necessarily, of circular ring-like form in plan, the frames being substantially alike in construction.

In carrying out the invention, generically construed, one ring-like frame is provided at circumferentially spaced points with assembling and retaining stays. The other frame is provided with one or more braces and the ends of the-stays adjacent to the braces are slidingly connected with the braces, making it possible to prop the stays in vertical position to expand and hold the frames apart orto release and fold the stays so that the two frames may be collapsed into compact relation.

A collapsible frame having the structural characteristics disclosed constitutes an openwork or skeleton framework for a readily applicable and removable canopy or cover. In fact, by using a decorative cover and applying it removably to the frame the cover and frame conjointly provide an ideal cake enclosing and protecting box.

At least two embodiments or forms of the over-all generic invention are herewith presented and, while the cake cover aspect of the concept is being stressed for convenience of classification and description, it will be understood that the invention comprehends a folding or collapsible frame structure providing a skeleton support for a tent, for supporting a cover on a patio table and for other purposes which will be briefly mentioned in the following description.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation a more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in perspective showing the frame structure expanded or set up and being used and with an attachable and detachable cover removably mounted thereon providing a collapsible cake box, or similar food enclosing and protecting device.

FIG. 2 is a View in perspective of a modified frame structure with the cover means removed.

FIG. 3 is a section on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view based on FIG. 3 and showing the folded or collapsed state of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view emphasiz- 3,i9,54 Patented Feb. l 6, 1965 ing the construction of the upper or top ring or frame and a cooperating slidable end portion of a stay.

FIG. 6 is a section on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a View in perspective fragmentarily shown I but based on the stay construction seen in the modification of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Reference will be had first to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6,1

inclusive.

' The bottom or lower member of the frame structure referred to as a first member is denoted by the numeral 10 and the second member or frame is denoted at 12. It is reiterated that for convenience a cake cover or box is being revealed. To this end, the lower frame is preferably a bendably resilient wire or an equivalent ring as is the upper companion spaced parallel and opposed frame 12. In fact, these frames may be said to be structurally similar. The upper frame is provided across the central portion thereof with a pair of close-spaced wires or rods here referred to as braces 14 and 16. The outer end portions of thebraces are welded or otherwise secured as at 18 (FIG. 5) to the underneath side of the ring or frame 12. The diametrically opposite frame expending and contracting elements which serve to link the frames together are referred to as stays and there are two such stays each denoted by the numeral 20. Each stay is in the form of a plate or leg having a pair of spaced aligned knuckle 22 at the bottom hingedly mounted on the frame 10. The numeral 24 designates a reinforcing element to strengthen the leg or stay. The pper end portion of the stay is laterally ofiset at a suitable oblique angle as at 26 and this part provides a stay linking terminal and is provided with elongated slots 28 slidingly embracing the braces or rod 14 and 16 and which may be releasably seated in keeper notches 30 when the stays are up in frame-spacing and retaining position.

This open framework constitutes an ideal support means for a readily applicable and removable cover. This cover is denoted by the numeral 32 and it comprise a disk-like or circular pad 34. This may be a laminated pad with a suitable marginal seam or binding 36 In actual practice, the top surface of the pad may be colorfully decorated (not detailed). A transparent flexible slightly elastic plastic or an equivalent endless skirt 38 is provided and the upper end portion is joined to the overhanging border or seam as at 40. The skirt when drawn down and tautened encircles the two rings 1t) and 12 in the position shown (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the turned in lower edge thereof is provided with a reinforced edge 42 which surrounds the lower ring or frame 10 and is tucked in or beneath the ring for retention purposes.

The modified form of the invention, which may be also used as a cage for an applicable and removable cake or equivalent cover, is shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 and here again the lower or bottom member or frame com-' prises a flexibly resilient wire or an equivalent ring 44 to which legs or stays 46 are hingedly connected. These four stays are circumferentially arranged and equally distanced from each other and each stay is preferably of wire form, rigid and approximately V-shaped. The limbs or legs of the V are denoted at 48 and the lower ends are formed with eyes 50 hingedly attached to upwardly arched bends 52 which constitute journals therefor. The upper converging ends of the legs are joined by a bight portion 54 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and this portion is obliquely bent as shown in FIG. 8 and there is a cross member 56 attached to the legs near the bight so that the components 54 and 56 provide a friction terminal or outer ends thereof welded or otherwise secured to circum-' ferentially spaced points of the upper or top ring or frame 60.

Generically construed, the two embodiments shown are characterized by upper and lower companion or sub stantially duplicate frames or rings. upper and lower are used in relation to the views of the drawings. The frames are preferably, when used as a cake cover holder, constructed of a suitable wire of requisite cross section. The stays or legs may be either four or two in number as shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, respectively. In both instances, the upper or top frame has one or more braces. The braces are said to span the space of the ring or frame and to extend diametrically from one side to the other. The upper free end portions of the stays slidably link themselves to the braces.

Novelty is thought to reside in the collapsible frame structures singly and collectively of FIGS. 1 and 2. Novelty is also thought to be present in the use of folding or collapsing frames to accommodate a readily applicable and removable enclosing cover preferably one which is like that shown in the drawings, that is, comprising a shape sustaining pad 34 with a transparent readily foldable plastic or equivalent skirt thus providing an attractive cover which is readily applicable and removable.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehen sive understanding of the invention. Under the circumstances a more extended description is believed to .be

unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of component parts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A collapsible frame structure comprising upper and lower frames, a pair of elongated and upstanding stays interconnected between corresponding opposite side portions of said frames maintaining the latter in vertically spaced and vertically aligned positions, one set of corresponding ends of said stays being pivotally secured to a first frame of said frames for rotation about axes gen- The expressions erally paralleling the longitudinal centerlines of the portions of said first frame to which said stays are secured for swinging movement of the other set of corresponding ends of said stays inwardly of said first frame toward a collapsed position generally paralleling the medial plane of said first frame, the second of said frames including elongated brace means secured thereacross and extending at right angles to the axes of rotation of said stays, the other set of ends of said stays including upwardly and outwardly inclined upper end portions'having openings formed transversely therethrough slidingly receiving the corresponding ends of said brace means therethrough, the vertical diameters of said openings being greater than the vertical thickness of said elongated brace means, at least one edge of each opening cooperating with the corresponding end of said brace means, when said stays are fully erected, for maintaining said frames in said vertically spaced positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second set of corresponding ends of said stays includes means abuttingly engageable with said opposite side portions of said second frame for limiting outward movement of said second set of ends away from each other.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower frame includes circumferentially spaced pairs of upwardly arched bends, said stays including eyes on their lower ends journaled in said bends for retaining said stays against circumferential sliding movement on said lower frame. a

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end portions of said stays include eye loops defining said openings.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end portions of said stays are defined by slots formed in said upper end portions.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said slots are vertically elongated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,375,397 Lawrence Apr. 19, 1921 2,405,627 Williams Aug. 13, 1946 2,466,220 Ferguson Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 287,803 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1928 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE FRAME STRUCTURE COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER FRAMES, A PAIR OF ELONGATED AND UPSTANDING STAYS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN CORRESPONDING OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAMES MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN VERTICALLY SPACED AND VERTICALLY ALIGNED POSITIONS, ONE SET OF CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID STAYS BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO A FIRST FRAME OF SAID FRAMES FOR ROTATION ABOUT AXES GENERALLY PARALLELING THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINES OF THE PORPORTIONS OF SAID FIRST FRAME TO WHICH SAID STAYS ARE SECURED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER SET OF CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID STAYS INWARDLY OF SAID FIRST FRAME TOWARD A COLLAPSED POSITION GENERALLY PARALLELING THE MEDIAL PLANE OF SAID FIRST FRAME, THE SECOND OF SAID FRAMES INCLUDING ELONGATED BRACE MEANS SECURED THEREACROSS AND EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXES OF ROTATION OF SAID STAYS, THE OTHER SET OF ENDS OF SAID STAYS INCLUDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED UPPER END PORTIONS HAVING OPENINGS FORMED TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH SLIDINGLY RECEIVING THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID BRACE MEANS THERETHROUGH, THE VERTICAL DIAMETERS OF SAID OPENINGS BEING GREATER THAN THE VERTICAL THICKNESS OF SAID ELONGATED BRACE MEANS, AT LEAST ONE EDGE OF EACH OPENING COOPERATING WITH THE CORRESPONDING END OF SAID BRACE MEANS, WHEN SAID STAYS ARE FULLY ERECTED, FOR MAINTAINING SAID FRAMES IN SAID VERTICALLY SPACED POSITIONS. 